40 C.F.R. § 211.207   Computation of the noise reduction rating (NRR).

Title 40 - Protection of Environment


Title 40: Protection of Environment
PART 211—PRODUCT NOISE LABELING
Subpart B—Hearing Protective Devices

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§ 211.207   Computation of the noise reduction rating (NRR).

Calculate the NRR for hearing protective devices by substituting the average attenuation values and standard deviations for the pertinent protector category for the sample data used in steps #6 and #7 in Figure 2. The values of −.2, 0, 0, 0, −.2, −.8, −3.0 in Step 2 and −16.1, −8.6, −3.2, 0, +1.2, +1.0, −1.1 in Step 4 of Figure 2 represent the standard “C”- and “A”-weighting relative response corrections applied to any sound levels at the indicated octave band center frequencies. (NOTE: The manufacturer may label the protector at values lower than indicated by the test results and this computation procedure, e.g. lower NRR from lower attenuation values. (Ref. §211.211(b).)

                                                   Figure 2_Computation of the Noise Reduction Rating    Octave band center frequency (Hz)..................................      125     250     500   1000    2000   3000          4000   6000             80001 Assumed Pink noise (dB)..........................................      100     100     100    100     100  .....           100  .....              1002 ``C'' weighting corrections (dB).................................      -.2       0       0      0     -.2  .....           -.8  .....             -3.03 Unprotected ear ``C''-weighted level (dB)........................     99.8     100     100    100    99.8  .....          99.2  .....             97.0(The seven logarithmically added ``C''-weighted sound pressure levels of Step #3 =107.9 dS)4 ``A''-weighting corrections (dB).................................    -16.1    -8.6    -3.2      0    +1.2  .....          +1.0  .....             -1.15 Unprotected ear ``A''-weighted level (step #1-step #4) (dB)......     83.9    91.4    96.8    100   101.2  .....           101  .....             98.96 Average attenuation in dB at frequency...........................       21      22      23     29      41  .....  (43+47)/2=45  .....   (41+36)/2=38.57 Standard deviation in dB at frequency............................      3.7     3.3     3.8    4.7     3.3  .....  (3.3+3.4)=6.  .....   (6.1+6.5)=12.6                                                                                                                               7                                                                          x2      x2      x2     x2      x2  .....  ............  .....  ...............                                                                    -----------------------------------------                                                                         7.4     6.6     7.6    9.4     6.6  .....  ............  .....  ...............8 Step #5-(step #6-step #7) develops the protected ear ``A''            70.3    76.0    81.4   80.4    66.8  .....          62.7  .....             73.0 weighted levels (dB)..............................................(The seven logarithmically added ``A''-weighted sound pressure levels of Step #8 using this sample data=85.1 dB)9 NRR=Step #3_Step #8_3 dB*; =107.9 dB_85.1 dB_3 dB*; =19.8 dB (or 20) (Round values ending in .5 to next lower whole number). *Spectral uncertainty (as defined in § 211.203).

The value for #3 is constant. Use Logarithmic mathematics to determine the combined value of protected ear levels (Step #8) which is used in Step #9 to exactly derive the NRR; or use the following table as a substitute for logarithmic mathematics to determine the value of Step #8 and thus very closely approximate the NRR.

 ------------------------------------------------------------------------                                                               Add this                                                               level to   Difference between any two sound pressure levels being     the higher                       combined (dB)                          of the two                                                             levels (dB)------------------------------------------------------------------------0 to less than 1.5.........................................            31.5 to less than 4.5.......................................            24.5 to 9...................................................            1Greater than 9.............................................            0------------------------------------------------------------------------

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